Clients And Contractors

Question 1

Responsibilities on labour only contracts

Answer 1

A labour only contract is where an agency provides staff to work under the employer’s direct control.
The contractor should be treated as an employee.
The responsibilities of the agency regarding provision of competent workers and personal protective equipment should be clearly defined.

Question 2

Fixed price contracts

Answer 2

Fixed price

A fixed price contract is the most common type of contract.

Question 3

Separate contract

Answer 3

If work can be separated by secure fencing the contractor is responsible for the health and safety on the site
The client may still be responsible regarding hazards that cant be separated ie noise .

Access to and exit from the separate site may also still be the clients

Question 4

Define a contractor

Answer 4

Anyone that works for you who’s not an employer

Question 5

Responsibilities in using a contractor

Answer 5

Both have joint responsibilities under law
Right precautions to reduce risks to workplace/employees/public
Must make sure everyone understands the part they need to play in ensuring health and safety

Question 6

Identifying the job

Answer 6

Identify the work the contractor will do
Consider the health and safety implications
Provide information and make sure they understand the performance that performance you expect of them

Question 7

Selecting a suitable contractor

Answer 7

Satisfy yourself contractor can don the job safely without risks

Making enquiries about the competence of the contractor
Right combination of skills/experience/knowledge

Question 8

Questions to ask contractor regarding health and safety

Answer 8

Arrangements for managing the work
Are your using subs how will they be supervised what checks
What’s your recent health and safety performance
Do you have a written policy
Can you provide risk assessments
Trading for employers ?

Question 9

Assess the risks of the work

Answer 9

What can harm people
Who might be harmed and how
How will you control the risk

Question 10

Risk Assessment for work activities on own business

Answer 10

Make sure assessments cover risks to contractors from your business

Contractor must asses the risk for the contracted work
Both then get together to consider any risks that could affect health and safety
Make sure measures are needed to control risks before work starts

Question 11

Provide information instruction and training

What must the contractor and employees have information on

Answer 11

Health and safety risks they may face

Measures in place to deal with those risks

Emergency procedures

Question 12

Management of contractors

HSE five step approach

Answer 12

Planning 
Choosing a contractor 
Contractors working on site 
Keeping a check
Reviewing the work

Question 13

Steps in planning STEP 1 in managing contractors

Answer 13

Defining the job -

client clearly identify all aspects of the work including work falling within the preparation and completion phases.

Risk management-

Both the client and prospective contractor should be involved in the risk management process.
The client should already have a risk assessment for the work activities of his own business. The contractor’s role involves assessing the risks for the contracted work.

The client and the contractor need to agree the risk assessment for the contracted work and the preventative and protective steps that will apply when the work is in progress. If subcontractors are involved, they should also be part of the discussion and agreement.

Specify conditions

Contractors must be made aware of the expected standards of performance. Health and safety arrangements, procedures, permit systems and safety policy statement should be shared with the contractor who should confirm their understanding and agree to work accordingly.

Question 14

Steps in planning STEP 2 in managing contractors

Choosing the contractor

Answer 14

Contractors will be selected based upon a range of criteria including: availability, cost, technical competence, reliability and health and safety.
Client must satisfy themselves that contractor competent

Question 15

What’s the pre tender questionnaire

PTQ

Answer 15

Used broadly to determine the suitability of a contractor
 experience in the type of work to be done

 health and safety policies and practices

recent health and safety performance (number of accidents etc.)

 qualifications and skills relevant to the contract
 selection procedure for sub-contractors (if sub-contractors are
to be allowed), or their safety method statement
 Arrangements for:
- health and safety training e.g. safety passport - supervision
- consulting the workforce
 independent assessment of competence

 memberships of relevant trade or professional body

Once a contractor has been selected pre-commencement meetings will be required

Question 16

Step 3 in choosing a contractor

Answer 16

Specific arrangements will be required to :
manage the movements of contractors on site through visitor sign in controls and possibly permits-to-work

 ensure that all technical and management controls are in place before allowing the work to begin, for example:

 numbers of persons and supervisor details are confirmed

 the correct work equipment is provided

 access and egress to location of work are discussed and agreed

 suitable personal protective equipment is available and being worn

 safe system of work / method statements are understood

 any necessary permits to work are in place
 reporting, communications and monitoring arrangements have been agreed.

Question 17

What other arrangements required in step3

Answer 17

Information, instruction and training

Co-operation and coordination

Consultation

Management and supervision

Question 18

Step 4 in managing contractors

Monitoring the contract

Answer 18

All parties monitor their health and safety check risk assessments are current and control measures are effective

Contractors/sub carry out day to day checks
Clients make periodic checks on contractors performance

If not meet client takes appropriate action

Question 19

Step 5 in managing contractors

Reviewing the work

Answer 19

Review after completion to see if performance could be improved

The client should review both the job and the contractor. Consideration should be given to:

 the effectiveness of the planning
 the contractor’s performance
 how smoothly the job went.